San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-01-18

ed me for many years when with my
eyes / could see them no longer. IL
was on my seventeenth birthday, and
the date was the tenth of May, that a
new life was opened to me. On that
morning / was one of the happiest,
brightest children that ever drew
breath, with no care or thought save
for the birds and flowers. With long
ing impotence to see the dew on the
grass l watched the sun rise; when L
watched the same sun set, i had passed
from childhood to womanhood. My
mothers pretty little house peeped out
from mass of lilac trees, and there
was group of the same just outside
the garden gate, bordering the path
that led to the wood. The townspeople
had the right of using this path, but
they did not often avail themselves OF
it.
The first thing l thought of on my
birthday was the lilacs. / knew Just
how the trees would look, the dew lying
heavy on them, and the sun shining on
their bloom. / must gather plenty for
the breakfast-table, for my birthday
was household fete.
went out. On the previous night 1
had noticed on the top of the tallest
tree spray Of lilac that l wanted to
gather. 1t was exactly the shape of the
Prince of Wales's feathers-three nod
ding, beautiful, graceful plumes, sur
rounded by green leaves.
Once, twice, thrice l tried to reach
the branch | wanted, but failed to do
so. The sun was shining in my face;
the shaking of the boughs scattered the
dew-drops all over me. Suddenly
voice near me said:
1T is too high; you cannot reach it.
Let me get it for you"
l had heard no footsteps, and had
seen no shadow on the grass. Turning,
my eyes fell on a bright, handsome face,
with eyes dark and lustrous, and
mouth sweet and firm.
As he spoke, he broke off the bough.
In doing so the tree shook, and the
great dew-drops fell on his face and on
mine.
How careless / am" he said. "Do
forgive me, Miss Chester!"
How do you know my namep" l
asked. II do not remember having seen
you before"
81 know most of the inhabitants of
Gracedieu," he replied. "You do not
recognize me, but my father is often at
your house."
My mind quickly reviewed the few
friends who were in the habit of visit
ing us, and l could think Of no one
likely to be the father of the handsome
young man by my side.
II am DIR. Upton'S son, he continued
-"Mark Upton, at your service. My
father often talks of Mrs. and MISS
Chester"
II am much obliged to you" I said.
ut is my birthday, and | had set my
heart on that particular spray of lilac.
How beautiful it isl'
They are my favorite flowers" he
said.
How strange! 1 prefer them to any
Others" l remarked, glancing up at
him.
II wish you many happy returns of
the day." he said. smiling; land hope
every wish of yours to-day may be graf
flied as easily as this has been''-touch-
ing the branch of lilac as he spoke.
And so, by that one incident, my fate
was sealed on the bright May morning
when Mark Upton passed our house on
his way to the woods.
1t was not very great surprise to
me when, three days afterwards, on re-
turning from my favOrite haunt by the
river, found Mr.. Upton talking to my
mother. His dark face flushed when he
SAW Ul6. anu lOSt lIOil Ills
miss Chester" he said, II have
taken the liberty of bringing you these"
and he held out mass of beautiful
flowers, chiefly white Iilacs of a rare
kind with very sweet perfume. II was
at Oakton Hall this morning." he con-
tinued, land thought of you as l rode
through the park. The lilacs are in full
bloom; these white ones are the finest
/ have ever seen. j could not resist
bringing them to you. The park is
beautiful now. Not only are the lilacs
out, but the laburnums are also, and
the hawthorn-treeS are magnificent
You would enjoy seeing them"
l said something about the Grace
dieu woods-I never remembered what.
He came nearer to me, and held out the
white lilacs that l might inhale their
fragrance. How can I describe the
vague feeling of happiness, of new
born delight, of pleasure that was al
most pain when he approached? / re-
member how we were half afraid to
look at each other; then one, stealing
glance, would meet the others eyes,
and dire confusion would result. Ire
member that while we both examined
the lilacs our hands met-and that first
touch of his hand was new revelation
to me. Presently the figure of my gen.
tie, silent mother, who was knitting
busily at the window, disappeared, and
we were alone - two young, loving,
passionate hearts alone with the glamOr
of first love over us.
had thought of nothing but the
dark handsome face since / had seen it
first under the lilac-boughs. dreamed
of it; wherever 1 looked, there it was.
/ could see it in the flowers, in the
shadowy river, in the blue of the sky,
in the gold Of the sunlight; glance
where / would, it was there-always
there.
Twas romantic girl, full of poetry
and dreams. He was the first hand
some young man / had seen, and fate
had brought us together. When l awOke
to the reality of the present, my mother
was saying
Nellie, show Mr.. Upton our trees.
d! think they are the finest in Grace
dieu."
Presently we were standing in the
glory of the golden sunshine, but did
not see it. I did not see the ripple Of
the foliage, the dark woods, the lilac
trees, or the garden. l saw nothing but
the face that was more beautiful to me
than all the world beside.
There was a shady arbor under the
great lilacs, and we were sitting there.
Mr.. Upton was telling me of his life,
his position, and his future.
II shall always thank Heaven" he
said, THAT l made my way to Grace
dieu woods on the tenth of May"
dared not ask why. l knew.
"What small events rule our livesl"
he went on. IF i had been one hour